I never have enough time to post

Don't get started thinking about the list of thngs you need to get done before the end of the day. If you are like me, the list starts with the items that were carried over from yesterday's list. Take a deep breath, and let that go. We are all busy, very busy.

Here's a few ideas that may help:
1. Keep a posting list. I keep a Word document minimized on my computer that I use to copy url's (websites), ideas, and other information that I consider important that I find throughout the day.
2. Grab 2 or 3 ideas everyday and summarize or complete the thought.
3. Aggregate your posts. Sites like socialoomph.com, ping.fm, or even tweetdeck help get the posts out to multple sites at once. Some of these sites will even schedule your posts to go out at specific times.

Minimize your work efforts by maximizing your activity. Try these few easy tips to help you post more frequently and effectively while reducing the amount of time you spend online.

Social Media Start Up Ideas

Many people who haven't yet launched into using social media sites and other web sites to promote their real estate give one of two reasons why they haven't started. The first is time and the second is knowing actually knowing what to do. Though many people agree that they would market using social media, they just don't have the expertise to be able to accomplish the task. If there were a step by step approach to getting involved in the more popular sites then these non social media users would jump right in. The other group, the one professing lack of time, has a legitimate reason as well, or at least those in this group think they do because they don't know how to manage their social media accounts.
Ideas to start:
1 Open a Facebook account. www.facebook.com It is very intuitive, even asking you which friends of yours you want to befriend. What are you waiting for?...
2 In your profile (click the tab) hit that little picture button to upload a photo of your favorite listing. In the rectangle that asks "What's on your mind?" Type a flowing description of your listing. Click share!
3 How about an event? See the little calendar tab? Click on it and add information about an upcoming event like an open house or a volunteer event you are involved in. Click Create an Event.
4 You are almost there! Now for the scary part... If you are on your laptop and you have a webcam, then you can create your own short video message. Let's start small and send it directly to a friend of yours. Up at the top of the page is Inbox. Click on it. Click on Compose and type a friend’s name in the To: box. Next is the fun part! Click on the camera and then the little white button in the red square at the bottom of the page...Start talking and SMILE! When you run out of things to say then stop talking and click the white square at the bottom of the screen. Click share.
5 Click on the Photos button on the left side of the page. Click upload photos and then click Create an album. Name it Homes I've Sold. Click create and then click the photos of homes that you've sold. They're in the photos on your computer aren't they? Click upload.

You now have a Facebook account and are part of the 4th largest country in the world. You can upload photos, write a post, make a photo album, and make a video. Set your timer for 30 minutes and stop when it goes off.

Putting Social Media All Together

Scott Stratten @unmarketing absolutely gets social media marketing; create an online relationship that leads to meeting a person irl (in real life). He uses authentic topics to reach out and engage his audience. He's real, not airing a personality or persona of fictitious matter. Scott is showing who he is and what he has to offer. Watch this video of Scott explaining his #followfive on his blog. In Scott's words, "Stop Martketing and start engaging." Click on the title to watch Scott's video.

Prospecting Requires Tool-kit

Sitting here reviewing the latest Facebook statistics, I am amazed at the fervor of activity and growth of social media sites. Facebook is now over 300 million users worldwide with over half of those logging on daily. Facebookers, spending ore than 6 billion minutes daily, post more than 2 billion pieces (including web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, events, and videos) weekly! Facebook is a growing, thriving country of intricately woven relationships.

It is astounding to me that we now have the ability to reach so many people simultaneously. It is no wonder why such a large number of marketers are focusing their attention on Facebook and other social media sites. We can create connections, establish relationships helping other people. Through a process of educational marketing we authentically develop these relationships with our friends as they begin to know, like, and eventually trust us, proving again Jim Weichert’s age-old adage, “People by people before they will buy a product or service.”

These social media marketing platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and the rest, have given real estate agents and other prospectors the ability to reach more people and further develop their sphere of influence. With the web 2.0 explosion, however, we have begun to lose sight of a very important piece of the prospecting system: good old eyeball to eyeball, belly to belly as the cronies call it, contact.

Yes, we can electronically and conveniently, send documents to be signed literally anywhere in the world. Relationships however still have to be developed and grown. Take the time to meet with people. It’s the relationship that really makes the service industry fun! Cherish the true richness of the personal face to face contact that or customers truly deserve.

Prospecting and marketing methods have changed. They include a new tool, social media. In the end, it’s still just a tool. You can’t hammer with it. You need a hammer for that.

The Art of Networking

The more I read about networking, whether in person or online, the more I see recurring themes. There seems to be a similar opinion among networking experts and gurus as to how to most effectively network. Before I share the recurring themes let me share about a person who I have observed many times “work a room.”
Imagine the super-networker, as he enters the room. Watch him quickly scan the room looking for the key people he ultimately wants to meet. T he super networker moves confidently through the room, greeting everyone he comes near. He is quick to reach out and shake hands. The super-networker’s genuine smile has this way of making each person feel that he has been waiting all day just to talk to them. Usually, it is because he asks them a question that then allows them to talk about themselves. A question much deeper than the average, “How are you?” When the time is right, he either offers information or provides an important connection. After having this short conversation, he quickly excuses himself by offering the person something available in the room as if he is the host of the event. He then moves on to find the next person moving ever closer to the people he came to see.

The characteristics of a Super Networker are easy to spot:
1. He attends networking meetings. He shows up!
2. Has a compelling 30 second speech that tells people what he does.
3. Comes with a plan and a goal in mind.
4. Acts like the host of the event not a guest.
5. Asks powerful questions.
6. Listens more than speaks.
7. Gives information and connections.
8. Has a call to action.
9. Follows up with connections made.
10. Delivers on any agreements made.To be a Super-Networker you’ve got to practice. It’s best to practice at a real event. There is no better time to start than toda

Open Houses Work

Don't take my word for it. Take a SUCCESSful Weichert Realtor professional's word for it. Interested in learning how to make open houses work to sell your listings and help create new business? Call today 281-208-1700 Weichert Works!

Building a Brand and Creating Authenticity

Creating an online personality is an important part of establishing a social network. People need to know, like and trust you before they'll buy from you. In this article Stefan Swanepoel has takes a comprehensive look at setting up an online personality that is credible and authentic. Swanepoel's list is more philosophial than true steps to building the brand but it is definitely worth reading. Take a few minutes to read his article which is linked above.